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Navigating Conflicting Guidance for the 2026 Defense Budget
['Josh Tubbs', 'Elaine Mccusker', 'John G. Ferrari']
American Enterprise Institute – AEI
Within the larger federal picture, the defense budget landscape is complicated as well.
However, budget reconciliation funding is new.
This approach points to the first big area of difference between the President’s Budget expectations for the mandatory money and direction provided by Congress.
Armed Services Committees’ Intention Tables with InferencesPresident’s BudgetAs noted, unlike a normal supplemental which contains large blocks of funding—typically O&M—that is easy to track from the base budget, PB 2026 aligns the assumed $113.3 billion in budget reconciliation financing to more than 240 budget lines.
So is opening the door to mandatory funding for must-pay bills in support of the nation’s security.
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